Schools should dial back celebrating Halloween

4:34 PM,
Oct. 22, 2013

Charles C. Haynes

Written by

Charles Haynes
Columnist

Principal Orlando Taylor believed he was doing the right thing last week when he sent a letter home announcing to parents that Halloween celebrations will be banned at Inglewood Elementary School.

But Taylor underestimated how many parents in Pennsylvania's Towamencin Township are emotionally attached to the annual parties and parades featuring goblins, witches and ghosts. Outraged parents denounced the ban, calling it everything from ridiculous to un-American.

After the media got wind of the story, Taylor was transformed overnight from respectable school principal into the ...